THE NUMBER 40: Mentioned 146 times in Scripture, the number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing and trial. Every time one finds the number FORTY in the Torah, its inner meaning is the ascent from one level to the next higher one. We get a new mission at forty. But the attainment of a higher level can come only after first reaching and fulfilling all aspects of the previous level to allow for the emergence of something entirely new. (Numbers) 13:25 “they returned from spying out the land at the end of forty days.” The spies knew that the Israelites would undergo a spiritual rebirth when they entered the Promised Land. The number FORTY has come to symbolize beginnings and new beginnings. Thus, creation is renewed after forty days of flooding. The letter Mem is the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. The letter Mem is equivalent to forty (40). The Mem represents the age or time of completion. (Hebrew for Christians)

“I have come to IGNITE a FIRE on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” Luke 12:49.

“And the sight of the glory of The LORD was like a CONSUMING FIRE on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites. Moses entered the cloud as he went up on the mountain, and he remained on the mountain FORTY days and forty nights.” Exodus 24:17-18.

“A second time the angel of The LORD returned and touched Elijah, saying, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food, he walked FORTY days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.” 1 Kings 19:7-8.

“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit for FORTY days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, He was hungry. The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ ” Luke 4:1-4.

“In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach, until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of FORTY days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:1-3.

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.” Mark 16:17-18.

“For this reason Jesus had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:17-18.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.

“Then Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow The LORD will do wonders among you.” Joshua 3:5.

“Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.”
Hebrews 12:28-29.